Knowing hands converse with an expressive body – An experience of osteopathic touch

摘要: Abstract Background Touch is the process by which one person physically contacts another individual and as such plays an integral role in osteopathic practice. Osteopathic practitioners use touch almost every aspect of care including examination, diagnosis treatment. Although intrinsic to practice, there has been no published research date that qualifies experience within a treatment session. Aim The aim this phenomenological study was examine describe patient's during consultation with practitioner. Methods Three osteopaths identified five potential participants from their own Data were recorded face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Interviews transcribed textual data analysed using principles hermeneutic phenomenology. Themes description lived emerged. Results themes broken down into nine constituent subthemes. Theme [A] Process – physical interaction, drew attention patient-practitioner relationship importance engaged, bi-directional, supportive interaction. [B] Professionalism practitioner's responsibility, explored developing professional interaction emphasised expectations surrounding care, trust boundaries while [C] Reassurance therapeutic necessity, examined reassuring how it illustrated knowledge, technical competence confidence. Conclusions for session security. For critical supporting validating experiences communicating practitioner professionalism.